Law 17 - Corner Kick 2/9/2013

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

I think the law says you cannot remove the corner flag. Maybe I have missed something but I cannot remember anything about not allowing contact with the corner flag. Can you clairfy under which clause makes it illegal to make contact with the flag? M...

Mechanics 12/4/2012

Tom of Pasadena, CA USA asks...

I was the leading AR for an AYSO GU12 playoff game this weekend. The Referee called a PK. I took my position where the penalty area line intersected the goal line. After the referee's signal, the kicker banged the shot off the upright on my side of t...

Law 11 - Offside 10/5/2011

Sean of Seattle, WA USA asks...

Late in the final of the US Open cup yesterday a Chicago player in the 6 yard box got a shot off toward goal that was saved and controlled by the Seattle keeper. The AR raised his flag for offside and play was stopped for the IFK from the goal area. ...

Pre-Game 6/1/2010

Mike Suarez of Chino Hills, CA USA asks...

I just read the article by Gil Weber on the pre-game chat with the ARs. Frankly, I think it is way too much stuff. Personally, I like the advice that an instructor once gave to me after observing my pre-game chat. He said that ARs only retain thre...

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/9/2009

Nicholas Broderick of St. John's, Newfoundland Canada asks...

Just a couple of hypothetical situations involving player's equipment and when it comes off. I posed the first of these to a Facebook group and I was redirected to the comic strip 'You Are the Ref' where Keith Hackett, the FA Official who gives the a...

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/30/2009

mike martin of concord, nc usa asks...

on a corner kick,with the goalie on the goal line, an attacking player lines up in front of the goalie on the goal line. how should the goalie respond and at what point could the attacking players movements and position constitute interference?...

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/26/2009

Todd of Rockford, IL USA asks...

I have two questions: 1) Players putting their hands on the back of an opposing player - no push, just placing their hands on the opposing players back. Foul or no foul if there is no push? This happens when the ball is in the air and coming d...

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/21/2009

Chuck Schutt of Knoxville, TN USA asks...

I am writing in regard to what is commonly referred to as the Goalkeeper Pass Back rule but is specifically a section added in Law 12 a few years ago. The FIFA verbiage is clear and I thought easy for me to administrate as an official. I readily ag...

Law 11 - Offside 4/3/2009

Jim Brown of Lake Elsinore, CA USA asks...

The defending team, in a BU19 game, has a DFK from about their 18 yard line. The opposing team has most of their players on the center line, with a few closer to the ball. Just before the ball is kicked, a player from the team taking the kick moves ...

Offside Question?

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Ask The Ref ( Ask The Soccer Referee ) is a volunteer organization paid for by sponsorships. Licensed Soccer Referees make up our international panel. We respond to numerous soccer questions related to the rules and regulations of soccer which is governed by FIFA. 2/22/2019